I turned my attention back to Harper. “Was everything okay with whoever you were talking to on the phone?”
Harper’s shoulders sagged a bit and she shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She paused for a moment as she stepped out from under my arm and grabbed herself a cup of coffee. “It was Phillip, the head of media. He wants to have a meeting on Tuesday before the game to discuss things.”
Dread rolled in the pit of my stomach and Harper leaned against the counter as she sipped from her mug. Giana looked between the two of us and I spoke the words she signed out loud for her.
“G wants to know what there is to discuss.”
Harper shrugged and faced my sister as she spoke, even though she was talking to the two of us. “He knows about the accident and that the two of us were together. I’m assuming he’s probably going to either fire me or make me resign and go away quietly.”
“Shit,” I mumbled as I hung my head. I only let myself feel the blow from reality before looking back to her. “I’m coming to the meeting with you.”
Harper’s eyes widened. “No. There’s no reason for you to go. This is about my job, and I’m sure you’ll have to answer to your coach and everyone already.”
Her words reminded me that I needed to call Coach Anderson to talk to him and see who else I needed to deal with. What a fucking mess. It wasn’t like either of us were a threat to each other’s jobs. Hell, while we were both working, there was no way we could really even bother each other. There was always a sheet of glass separating us. Harper didn’t distract me from playing hockey.
“This is all just fucking bullshit,” I growled as I planted my hands on the counter. “Let me talk to them and explain things. Maybe if I come along and say something it will save your job.”
Harper stared back at me for a moment. “What is it that you think you could possibly do? How are you going to save my job?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, feeling absolutely helpless at that moment. “There has to be something I can do. I told you I would protect you, love. Please let me do that.”
Giana tapped on the counter to get both of our attention before signing, “I don’t think there’s anything you can do to help her, Nico. I know you think that being a player on the team that it will make a difference, but they’re not going to listen to you.”
“She’s right,” Harper said quietly after I finished translating. “I’m sure we’re not the first to get involved like this or the last. But think about it… If they were to let us slide, they would have to extend the same grace to other people too. There’s nothing we can do about it except accept our consequences for our actions.”
I shook my head, refusing to accept it. “At least just let me come along.”
“It will look worse if we show up together.”
“Please, Harper,” I practically pleaded with her. “I need to at least try to fix things.”
There was a deep-seated need inside of me to ensure she was safe, and that included her job. I knew I was being a little irrational and both of them were right. I wasn’t necessarily sure I would be able to change the board’s rules that strictly prohibited relationships like this, but I had to try. I promised Harper this wouldn’t happen and here we were.
Her chest rose as she inhaled deeply and I watched it fall as she released her breath. “You can’t always fix everything, Nico,” she said with her voice soft and gentle as her eyes searched mine. “But I’ll let you try.”
“Thank you, love,” I told her as I stepped to her to wrap my arms around her waist.
She looked up at me. “I need to go back to my place sometime today.”
“I’ll come with you,” I told her without any hesitation as I just invited myself along. I was still feeling shook-up and didn’t want to be away from her if I didn’t have to be. My sister would be fine here without me, especially since she was going to be living here now too.
She smiled at me and shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, but I want to,” I told her as I pressed my lips to her forehead.
“Okay,” she agreed softly as she wrapped her arms tighter around me.
I knew I was never going to be able to let her go.
And I was never going to let anything tear us apart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
NICO
After we had gotten back to Harper’s apartment, I told her about the plans I had made with Malakai. I instantly felt like an asshole, considering the information she shared with me about her call with Phillip. I should have stayed in with her, but she insisted I go meet Malakai. She declined when I invited her along.
Harper was the most important part of my life. I wanted her involved in every aspect, every space of it, but she was adamant about staying home. She said something about how I needed to catch up with my friend without her. There was also a look of exhaustion that had settled into her features and she needed some time to herself to process the news she had just received.
As I stepped into the bar, it was already crowded and most of the tables were occupied. I pushed my way past some of the groups of people that were standing around, drinking and talking. When I reached the bar, I paused for a moment and scanned the backs of the heads sitting in front of me.
Toward the very end, I caught sight of his dirty blond hair as he tipped his head back and sipped his beer. It was a little longer than the last time I had seen him. It was a mess of tousled waves that rested just above his eyebrows.
As he turned his head to the side and spotted me from across the bar, he gave me a swift nod. No wave, no smile. That was Malakai Barclay.
We were a peculiar pair of friends when we were younger. It wasn’t often that any light shone through the darkness that cloaked Malakai; he was generally more reserved and quiet. We were a stark contrast to one another, but I suppose that was why our friendship worked.
There was a seat that was empty next to Malakai and I walked over and slid onto it as I turned to face the bartender. My legs were tucked beneath the bar and I folded my arms in front of me as I turned to look at my old friend.
Malakai glanced over at me, his stare blank with a hardness settled in his jaw. He had filled out over the years and you could tell he had been working out to stay fit, considering his blossoming golf career. The coldness was still enveloping him like it always had.
“How have you been, Kai?” I inquired as I waited for the bartender. “It’s been years. You look good, dude.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Thanks. I’ve been all right. How about you?”
I shrugged dismissively. “You know how it goes. Busy with hockey and shit.”
“I can only imagine.” His voice almost sounded thoughtful for a fraction of a second, but Kai was never one to give much away. He was always slightly distant, but something about him made it feel like he was completely disconnected from it all.
The bartender walked over and I ordered a beer before turning my attention back to Malakai. “I had no idea you were going to be back in town. What brought you back? Golf?”
Kai lifted his beer to his lips and absentmindedly stared at the TV hung above the bar. “Just some unfinished business.”